Biotechnological and Chemical Sciences in Diagnostics

Applied molecular biology in diagnostics

Applied molecular biology in diagnostics

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The module will focus on the experimental technologies originating from the most advanced molecular biology knoweldge, thus providing the tools to translate the identification of molecular mechanisms in both pre-clinical and clinical diagnostic approaches. 

Results of learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should have a deep knowledge of: 

• Advanced molecular technologies to manipulate DNA structure and gene expression.
• Advanced molecular technologies exploiting nucleic acids and protein biochemical and biological properties for pre-clinical and clinical diagnostic technologies.
• Avanced sequencing technologies to identify diagnostic biomarkers
• Multi-omic approaches in precision medicine
• Engineered biosensors as biomarkers in teragnostics
  
  In addition the students will acquire skills in the analysis of current scientific literature, and learn how to use these skills for the development of new cell-based diagnostic tools in specific contexts.

Program

• Macromolecule interactions: relevance of molecular shape and its biological technological implications
  • Protein-protein: antigen-antibodies (western blot, ELISA, immune-precipaitations)
  • Humanized antibodies, phage display, single chain antibodies
  • Carbohydrates-proteins and carbohydrates-carbohydrates interactions
  • Tag-based interaction technologies (biological-based tags, biotin-based tags,…)
  • Strategies to detect macromolecules interactions in intact cells (FRET, FRAP, proximity ligation assays)
• FACS-based technologies
• Technologies for gene expression quantification
  • Hybridization technologies (direct and inverted hybridization)
  • Synthesis/amplification based-technologies (PCR, RT-PCR)
• DNA sequencing technologies from Sanger, NGS, nanopore and their applications
• Diagnostic applications
• Stategies to identify/validate/measurea biomarkers
  • NGS and more
  • Molecular diagnosis by omics/molecular diagnostics and precision medicine: methods, applications
  • Metagenomics and metatranscriptomics
• Synthetic biology and Synthetic biology-based diagnostics 
  • Synthetic biomarkers, also genetically encoded
  • Toehold RNA switches
  • CRISPR Cas-based
  • Optogenetics and its potential use in diagnostics

Course delivery

In presence lectures addressing the curricular part of the program. The didactic material will mainly consist of scientific papers which will be analysed in class. The students will receive the relevant bibliography. The active participation and discussion during lectures is strongly encouraged.

Learning assessment methods

Learning of the curricular module will be assayed through an written exam followed by an optional oral assessment, on the subjects and literature discussed during the course. 

Support activities

Further scientific papers will be suggested to deepen specific topics. 

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table